Improvement in modes of propelling sleighs



UNITED STATES i' PATENTV GEEIOE.`

`CHARLES H. HUDSON, OE NEW YOHH, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MODES OF PROPELLING SLEIGHS.

Specification forming part of 4Letters Patent No. 116,313, dated June27, 1871 antedated June 15, 1871.

To all lwho-m t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HUDSON, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain Improvements in a Self-Propellin gSleigh or Wagomof which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofself-propelling vehicle lto be used principally for the amusement andexercise of children and adults. It consists of anyr ordinary wagon orsleigh, on which is mounted and secured in a peculiar manner a pair ofrockers, which is furnished with pawls connected to it at one end andresting upon the floor or ground at the other end, the whole being soarranged and constructed that when the rockers are operated by the riderthe sleigh or wagon is driven ahead. It consists, further, in variousimproved devices and details which are hereinafter' fully set forth anddescribed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a lplan of a wagon whichembodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa plan of the running-gear of a wagon, so geared together as to turnaround in a very small space. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a sleighwhich embodies my invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevation on an enlargedscale of the foot or bearing-pad of one of the pawls. Fig. 6 is a bottomView otA the same. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of the same on theline x x, Fig. 5.

A is a platform, which serves as the body or box of the Wagon. It ismounted on wheels B, which turn loosely on the axle C and D. The axle Cis pivoted at the center on the bolt a, and turned on this center, toguide the wagon, by means of the coids or lines b, which may be held inthe hands of the rider. Upon the platform A is mounted apair of rockers,E E, which is held in place (while at the same time it is permitted torock freely) by the pins c working in the curved slot or hole in thebrackets d. Upon the rods e e are hung the pawls F and G, which passthrough slots j' f in the platform A, and rest upon the ground. Theirlower ends are furnished with shoes or pads H, which are shown in detailin Figs. 5, 6 and 7. These shoes consist of a frame of metal or wood, g,a rubbercloth pad h, stuffed with felt, Sponge, or other suitablesubstance, t', and secured to the frame g by the plate j, which isscrewed to the said frame. Spiral springs 7c lc are fastened at one endto the wagon-body, and at the other to the pawls, and, by their tension,keep the shoes or pads in contact with the iioor or ground. Upon therockers E E a hobby-horse, chair, or other suitable seat for the rideris placed and secured in the usual way.

When it is necessary or desirable that the A wagon should turn in asmall Space the axles may be connected together, as shown in Fig. 3^,and both secured to the platform A by bolts passing through the holes Zl, so that they will each turn freely on the centers.

In Fig. 4 the rockers, furnished with pawls, are mounted on a slei gh,the said rockers being held in place by the ends of the rod c, whichwork in the slots in the bracket d. This sleigh is guided by means of aguide-runner, m, fastened to the end of a rod, a, which is held inbearings in the brackets o, and provided with a handle, p, on which thehands ofthe rider rest. By turning this handle the sleigh may be guidedto the right or the left, or held on a direct course. Springs may beattached to the pawls F and Gr, in Fig. 4, if desired.

By means of the devices hereinabove described the rocking motion of anordinary chair or hobby-horse may be made use of for driving a sleigh orwagon, with no greater exertion than is usually made in rocking. Boththe forward and the backward movements are caused to force the sleigh orwagon ahead, whereby greater speed may be attained than where only onepawl is used.

The paWls F and G may (instead of resting upon the lloor or ground) beconnected, at the lower ends, to cranks on the axles G and D, in whichcase two of the Wheels (one on each axle) should be fast on the axle andturn with it.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

said sleigh or wagon by means of the pins c and slotted brackets d, ortheir equivalents, and furnished with the pawls F and G, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, with the running-gem` ar- 4. The shoe or pad,consisting of a frame, g, ranged and connected as shown in Fig. 3, ofthe filling ^,c0ve1in, z;h, and lockingpiate j, substanrockers E E andpawlsF and G, substantially as tially as described.

described. GHAS. H. HUDSON.

3. The combination, with the rockers E E and Witnesses: pawls F and Gr,ofthe springs kk', substantially H. JAMES WESTON,

as specified. S. M. ROOT.

